In the midst of a big re build of the stock footage here and running into a conumdrum around linking or importing the graphic clips.

Importing them always makes them the size of the project, but you can easily set the duration to something small like 5 seconds.

Linking brings the files in at their native sizes and transcoding them has an option to keep the source dimensions, but the duration is always 30 secs.

There are over 500 alpha graphics here and it would be great to have a solution that allows the size to be retained but the duration set to a custom value.

Is there such a solution/workaround?

...apologies if this is answered elsewhere already....

Hey there

I dont think there is but let me ask the developers.....

Marianna

Robert Martindale:

In the midst of a big re build of the stock footage here and running into a conumdrum around linking or importing the graphic clips.

Importing them always makes them the size of the project, but you can easily set the duration to something small like 5 seconds.

Linking brings the files in at their native sizes and transcoding them has an option to keep the source dimensions, but the duration is always 30 secs.

There are over 500 alpha graphics here and it would be great to have a solution that allows the size to be retained but the duration set to a custom value.

Is there such a solution/workaround?

...apologies if this is answered elsewhere already....

Got some intel for you on this request.....

First, it was entered as a Feature Request a few weeks back.   MCCET-5378   - Linking still images should use the Frame Import Duration setting

Workflow for you to try............ There’s a workflow for this where you can set inpoint, outpoint = duration of multiple clips in one go.. So if they need 5 seconds they can make all clips to 5 seconds with a couple of simple steps.

I will send the video to your email.....

Marianna

Gracias.....got the email and will check out the video

This worked well and it was easy to make shorter clips from a transcoded sequence of the clips after the IN and OUT are set.  That is how this is done, yes?

The transcode creates new short clips and is just what the dr ordered.....except when it came time to bring in alpha graphics....then, while they show as short durations in the bin and in the sequence, the resulting transcoded clips from the sequence were right back to being 30 secs...

...any ideas?

I googled AVID console commands and landed on digitalrebellion.com with this:

Set still image default frame duration

When importing an image via the Import dialog the length can only be specified in seconds. This command allows you to specify it down to a frame.

Cmd_setimportslidelength [number in frames]

...which semi-worked* on MC v21.12 to AMA .pngs at 1 frame each 

after typing:

Cmd_setimportslidelength 1
into the Console.

In the bin, those alpha matte effect clips did 
show a duration of 30;00 frames each, 
but  when I dragged them onto the timeline, 
it created a four frame sequence.
*Next, I duplicated that sequence and transcoded it, 
using a Handle length of 0 frames 
typed in, replacing the default.
Then the various transcoded .new.01 clips 
showed as 0;01 frames in the Duration Column 
and the .Transcoded.01 sequence of alphas 
remained at 4 frames duration.